Diamond Works for Down Syndrome

The Down Syndrome Association of Namibia was fortunate to be selected by the Diamond Works to benefit from its first ever Diamond Works Spending for Charity Event.  This exclusive event attracted members of the diplomatic corps, bankers, businessmen and women, and politicians.
N$25,000 was raised for the association. The Diamond Works dedicated a percentage of the sales of the evening and the auctioning of a pair of earrings from the world renowned French jewellery house of Feberegè to the Down Syndrome Association. Dr. Eline van der Linden, a founding member of the association, took the opportunity to share some recent experiences and challenges with the esteemed guests.

Since its launch in October 2012, the association has reached out to Down Syndrome support group in the Oshana Region and is helping this group with registration, information and fund-raising activities.   In another activity, the association advocated on behalf of a child with Down Syndrome who was  denied medical insurance, and supported parents of babies with Down Syndrome to get access to medical services.  The association also facilitated the placement of children with Down Syndrome in schools and participated in workshops on the condition organized by the Dagbreek and Moreson schools.  A picnic was held in the Parliament’s gardens for families with Down Syndrome children to get to know each other. Currently, the biggest challenge is to locate all the people with Down Syndrome in Namibia.  The fear of being stigmatized stops many parents and caretakers to be open about the fact that their family includes a person with Down Syndrome.